Snow brings travel chaos to UK roads as Met Office issues ice weather warnings until Thursday

Ross McGuinness
Updated ·3-min read

Watch: Snow causes disruption across parts of UK

Weather warnings for snow and ice are in place in parts of the UK until Thursday as the wintry conditions brought disruption to roads in several areas.

Parts of the West Midlands, Gloucestershire and Shropshire were blanketed in snow on Monday as temperatures plummeted, forcing road closures and abandoned cars.

The Met Office issued yellow weather warnings for snow and ice across much of England and Wales for the next three days.

STOURBRIDGE, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 28: Cars abandoned as heavy snowfall falls down on the West Midlands overnight on December 28, 2020 in Stourbridge, England. Heavy snow fall has covered the West Midlands as the Met Office issues yellow warnings throughout the day. (Photo by Cameron Smith/Getty Images)
A car left abandoned in Stourbridge, West Midlands, on Monday. (Getty Images)

The cold snap came after flooding in parts of southern England and winds of more than 100mph brought by Storm Bella on Boxing Day.

Last week, forecasters said there wouldn’t be a white Christmas Day but that frost would bring a “seasonal feel” to the festive period.

STOURBRIDGE, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 28: A AA van struggles in the snow as heavy snowfall falls down on the West Midlands overnight on December 28, 2020 in Stourbridge, England. Heavy snow fall has covered the West Midlands as the Met Office issues yellow warnings throughout the day. (Photo by Cameron Smith/Getty Images)
An AA van struggles in the snow in Stourbridge, England. (Getty Images)
STOURBRIDGE, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 28: Driving instructor Steve Smith removes snow off the top of his car as heavy snowfall falls down on the west midlands overnight on December 28, 2020 in Stourbridge, England. (Photo by Cameron Smith/Getty Images)
Driving instructor Steve Smith removes snow off the top of his car in Stourbridge, England. (Getty Images)
STOURBRIDGE, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 28: Members of the public help a car that is stuck in the snow as heavy snowfall falls down on the West Midlands overnight on December 28, 2020 in Stourbridge, England. Heavy snow fall has covered the West Midlands as the Met Office issues yellow warnings throughout the day. (Photo by Cameron Smith/Getty Images)
Members of the public help a car that is stuck in the snow after heavy snowfall fell overnight on Stourbridge, England. (Getty Images)
A lorry got stuck in the snow along the M54 in Shropshire. (Operational Patrol Unit Shropshire)
A lorry got stuck in the snow along the M54 in Shropshire. (Operational Patrol Unit Shropshire)

In Stourbridge in the West Midlands, cars were abandoned overnight because of heavy snow, while motorists struggled to navigate the icy conditions.

Gloucestershire Police warned members of the public to take care and to “only go out if it is essential to do so”.

The force tweeted: “Heavy snow is starting to fall in the rural parts of the county. This will cause delays on the roads.”

It had a number of reports of snow around the county causing disruption, which was hampering people in the Forest of Dean and the A417 around Birdlip.

Staffordshire Police also warned of “serious disruption”, with several roads in the area impassable.

It said there had been a number of reports of collisions between vehicles.

Dudley Zoo in the West Midlands said it would be closed on Monday due to the snow.

The weather warning said there is the potential for patches of snow across parts of England and Wales with 5 to 10cm falling in a few places, such as higher ground in Wales above 200 metres.

It added: “As well as snow, widespread ice may also be an issue, especially where treatment has been washed off road surfaces.”

STOURBRIDGE, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 28: Cars are covered in snow as heavy snow falls down on the West Midlands over night on December 28, 2020 in Stourbridge, England. (Photo by Cameron Smith/Getty Images)
Cars were left covered after the heavy snowfall. (Getty Images)
STOURBRIDGE, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 28: Cars abandoned as heavy snowfall falls down on the West Midlands overnight on December 28, 2020 in Stourbridge, England. Heavy snow fall has covered the West Midlands as the Met Office issues yellow warnings throughout the day. (Photo by Cameron Smith/Getty Images)
Cars were abandoned during the overnight snowfall. (Getty Images)

Parts of the East Midlands, East of England, London and the South East, the North West, South West, West Midlands and Wales are covered by the weather warnings.

The yellow warnings from the Met Office advise of the potential for injuries from icy surfaces and delays to trains and road transport.

There were also 100 flood warnings in place in England on Monday morning.

A message written on a car window after a snowfall in Liverpool overnight. (Photo by Peter Byrne/PA Images via Getty Images)
A message written on a car window after a snowfall in Liverpool overnight. (PA Images via Getty Images)
A car in snowy conditions on the A303 near Andover. (Photo by Andrew Matthews/PA Images via Getty Images)
A car in snowy conditions on the A303 near Andover, Hampshire. (PA Images via Getty Images)
Snow covered houses in the village of Oulton in Staffordshire.
An overhead view of snow-covered houses in the village of Oulton in Staffordshire. (PA)

The chilly conditions saw temperatures drop to -2.9C in Aboyne in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on Sunday.

Large swathes of London, the Midlands, the South, South West plus the east of England and Wales have also been warned that snow and ice could hit on Wednesday and Thursday.

Watch: Late ‘White Christmas’ as snow falls on England